John Paul O'Shea (Cork North-West, Fine Gael)
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184. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the level of funding provided by his Department for organisations and community groups working with the Irish diaspora; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15150/25]

Neale Richmond (Dublin Rathdown, Fine Gael)
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The Government remains committed to deepening our ties with the global Irish and supporting them to build diverse and dynamic communities overseas.

This work is underpinned by the Emigrant Support Programme (ESP), which is overseen by the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade.

Since it was established in 2004, the ESP has provided over €250 million in grants to more than 900 charitable and Irish community organisations in 51 countries.

This year the Department of Foreign Affairs will allocate €16.5 million under the Emigrant Support Programme.

Caring for the elderly and most vulnerable Irish emigrants remains at the heart of our programme.

The majority of the funding - some 60% - is granted to frontline welfare service providers. We support counselling and outreach services, and projects, which address social isolation and actively improve the wellbeing of Irish people.

We are also engaged with groups working with the travelling community, survivors of institutional abuse, and, in the US, with those impacted by changes in immigration policy.

The Emigrant Support Programme also invests in projects that foster a sense of community, nurture our identity and culture overseas and deepen our trade, business and education links.

The Programme for Government commits to facilitating the easier return to Ireland for emigrants. In support of this, the ESP funds the very informative Returning to Ireland portal on the Citizens Information website as well as a number of organisations such as Crosscare and Safe Home Ireland who provide information and support to returning Irish emigrants.

Details of all groups funded by the Emigrant Support Programme can be found on our website Ireland.ie.